Bogus phone call alert

We've teamed up with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water up to warn older people about bogus phone callers.

It comes after reports that scammers pretending to be from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water have been trying to con people into giving their bank details.

The scammers call and pretend that they can organise cheaper bills and ask for financial details, claiming they can secure refunds but need an account to send the money to.

“Older people are particularly trusting, especially when the caller sounds informed and authoritative,” said Gerry Keighley of Age Cymru.

“But if they give their bank or credit card details they can find their accounts are emptied very rapidly.

“This is the latest phone scam we’ve heard of but they all involve similar methods – scammers pose as someone in authority then ask for financial details.

“Our advice is never to give these details over the phone to anyone, even to people claiming to be from banks or the police.”

A Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water spokesperson said:

“We are aware that people in Ceredigion are being contacted by someone who says they are from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water before asking for bank details so that the caller can send a refund to the bank account.

“The caller asks for a payment over the phone, supposedly to cover the cost of paying the refund into their account.

“These calls are not from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and this is a scam.

“Anyone who receives a call and is concerned about the identity of someone who says they are calling on behalf of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water should not provide any personal information until they have confirmed the identity of the caller.

“The best way to do this is by taking the name of the caller and calling us on 0800 052 0145 to check their identity.

“If you believe you have been a victim of these bogus callers, then you should report it immediately to the police at Action Fraud on 0300 1232 040.”

Age Cymru’s ‘Scams and swindles’ campaign is calling for more protection for older people from criminals who ruthlessly steal from them through a variety of scams and swindles.